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The Fearful and Anxious Professional: Partner Experiences of Working in the Financialized Professional Services Firm

Author

Listed:
  • Scott M Allan

    (University of Aberdeen, UK)

  • James R Faulconbridge

    (Lancaster University, UK)

  • Pete Thomas

Abstract

This article explores the work and career of law firm partners in the context of a financialized organizational regime, highlighting the effects of performance measures and metrics on the ways partners see themselves and their careers. The empirical analysis reveals a sense of fear and anxiety as partners experience the scrutiny and pressure of financialized performance management. Furthermore, it reveals partners face contradictory demands as they are pushed to meet financial and ‘citizen’ objectives within the firm. The result is a career as a ‘project of the self’ that relies on various protection strategies and which results in professionals captured by ‘financialization’ and unable to assimilate its demands in ways that protect traditional professional values.

Suggested Citation

  • Scott M Allan & James R Faulconbridge & Pete Thomas, 2019. "The Fearful and Anxious Professional: Partner Experiences of Working in the Financialized Professional Services Firm," Work, Employment & Society, British Sociological Association, vol. 33(1), pages 112-130, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:woemps:v:33:y:2019:i:1:p:112-130
    DOI: 10.1177/0950017018793348
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. John Allen & Michael Pryke, 2013. "Financialising household water: Thames Water, MEIF, and ‘ring-fenced’ politics," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 6(3), pages 419-439.
    2. James R. Faulconbridge & Daniel Muzio, 2009. "The financialization of large law firms: situated discourses and practices of reorganization," Journal of Economic Geography, Oxford University Press, vol. 9(5), pages 641-661, September.
    3. Alvehus, Johan & Spicer, André, 2012. "Financialization as a strategy of workplace control in professional service firms," CRITICAL PERSPECTIVES ON ACCOUNTING, Elsevier, vol. 23(7), pages 497-510.
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